The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1887-06-07
The Economical Azores.

st. Michael's is the largest and by
far the most important island of tbs
Azores. Prettily situated at the foot
of its hills lies the town of Ponta Del
gada-much larger than the other
Azorean cities, but having the same
glaring white houses and narrow
streets. hemmed in by high stone
walls. The shops are rather difficult
to find. There is generally no sign
or no window, and the goods upon
the counters or shelves are only seen
through the doors, which are left
standing open. Some Of the smaller
shops have q string stretched across
the top of the door. from which are
suspended little punches Of thread OF
yarn, few strips of calico, an onion.
or candle, to attract customers; and
If a peasant happens to have q melon
which he does not need for home con-
sumption. and which he wishes to
sell, he sometimes displays it for this
purpose at the front window, usually
his only window.
A prettier spot could scarcely have
been selected for market-place than
the open square in the central part of
the city which is used for that pur-
pose. The central part of the in
closure is shaded by fine trees and
contains well-tilled tables. A great
variety of fruit is offered, which,
though tempting to the eye, often
proves less luscious than it looks.
The pineapples, grapes and plums,
however, are delicious. The yellow
pineapples are peculiarly tender and
delicate, having a fine flavor and no
tough fibres. This is the only fruit
which requires to be ripened under
glass in the genial climate of the
Azores. Small heaps of grain piled
up in the middle of sheets are offered
for sale. forming a yeritable corn ex-
change on d small scale, but one in
which the merchandise is represented
by stock actually on hand. Beauti
fully shaped water Jugs of coarse clay,
which are. manufactured on the island,
and heavy grade of homespun linen,
which has been prepared by the
peasants, are also among the goods
on exhibition.
1t is not unusual to see women at
their open doors occupied in spinning
with a distaff, and rapidly twisting
the thread from it with the left hand
So primitive are the people that even
the spinning wheel, which has been
so long discarded in most regions,
would be an innovation here. Hand
looms are used in some families. and
instances are given of young girls
working upon them for the small sum
of four cents a day Wages here are
small. Men do a full days work for
twenty-five cents, and women em
ployed in housework receive. in some
cases, but a dollar a month. On the
other hand, their wants are few and
and the expenses of living very light.
The low stone huts of the peasants
are dark and gloomy, with bare floors
of hard earth. sometimes strewn with
pine needles. Through the open
doors we see wicker partitions, and
the hens and chickens are evidently
a. much at hume as the children.
The entire supply of water is brought
in clay pipes from lakes on the noun
tains. and is discharged in the streets.
and at frequent intervals along the
roadsides, from substantial fountains
which flow constantly. Earthen
water-iugs are then used for convey
ing the water to the houses. The
women manage them adroitly, bal
ancing the sloping sides of the jug so
perfectly on the head that it needs no
further support.
The inhabitants Of the Azores are
principally of Portuguese origin, with
a mixture of Flemish and Moorish
blood They are a handsome people,
with fine figures. olive compilations,
and soft brown eyes. Education has
received but little attention here, and
large propArtion of the people
are unable to read and write.
Still, there seems to be an entire alb
sence of street lounging and rowdy
ism, and although the people of the
lower classes are very poor, their
clothing is scrupulously clean and
well kept. Ihey generally ignore
shoes altogether. or stick their toes
into rude clogs. No matter how
scanty the clothing may be about the
feet, the heads of the women are in
variably covered with tidy handker-
chiefs. The little girls begin to wear
this badge even in infancy, and they
adhere to it through life A peculiar
shade of lemon-yellow IS often Sc
lected for the handkerchief. which,
neatly folded over their smooth, dark
locks and tied under the chin, is ex
ceedingly becoming.
These people do not approve of in
novations, but are satisfied to keep
things as they used TO be. The men
still stoop uncomfortably in working
with short handled hoes. as their
grandfathers did, and spades and
shovels are unknown. The women
carry their washing out to the